1. Contestant must be a U.S. Citizen and resident of Illinois.
2. Contestant must have been born a woman.
3. Contestant must never have been convicted of a felony offense.
4. Contestant must be single, never have been married or had a marriage annulled, and never have been pregnant.
5. Any and all provocative of distasteful photos or text must be removed from any online source before entering the pageant.
6. Contestant must be a minimum of 17 years of age by the pageant date and not have reached her 25th birthday by the pageant date.
7. Contestant agrees to have her photograph taken at the discretion of the Pageant Director. It is understood that this photograph may be used in any manner for publicity and advertisement of the Old King Coal Festival and Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant.
8. No one is allowed backstage with the Contestant during the pageant. There will be designated volunteers to help the contestants. Anyone who is not a contestant or volunteer must leave the dressing room thirty (30) minutes prior to pageant start time.
9. Contestants are required to attend the rehearsal the morning of the pageant.
10. Contestants are required to participate in the opening number, which will not be judged. Contestants are asked to wear cocktail attire (cocktail dress, romper, or jumpsuit). If you have questions about what is appropriate, please contact the Pageant Directors.
11. Contestants agree to participate in a private interview with the judges and to appear in swimwear (choice of one or two-piece) and evening gown onstage.
12. Contestants agree to participate in the on-stage question portion of the competition. The question is asked during the evening gown portion of the competition.
13. Each area of competition is worth 25% of the Contestant’s score.
14. Contestant agrees that the time, manner, and method of conducting and judging the contest shall be solely within the discretion of the pageant officials and that the decision of the judges is final.
15. If chosen as Princess Flame, any and all directions will only be given by the Pageant Directors. In absence of the Pageant Directors, an Old King Coal Committee member will act in their place.
16. If chosen as Princess Flame, contestant agrees and is required to attend the Old King Coal Festival. The Festival is typically held the second week of May. Princess Flame agrees and is required to attend the following events during the Festival:
a. Opening night of the festival (typically Thursday night).
b. Nightly opening ceremonies (Thursday-Saturday).
c. A morning news interview with a local news station. (typically either Thursday or Friday morning).
d. The Coal Miners Memorial Service (Saturday Morning).
e. The Princess Flame Scholarship Luncheon (Saturday following Memorial).
f. The Grand Parade (Saturday following Luncheon).
g. Any additional events that may occur during the Festival.
17. The First and Second Runners Up agree and are required to attend the Coal Miners Memorial, the Princess Flame Scholarship Luncheon, and the parade on the Saturday of the Festival. Should the Runners Up fail to attend, they will not be awarded their scholarship winnings. Being excused is in the sole discretion of the Pageant Directors.
18. If selected as Princess Flame, Contestant is required to send thank you cards to all pageant Sponsors.
19. Princess Flame will be expected to make personal appearances during her year, as arranged by the Pageant Directors or with the approval of the Directors.
a. Princess Flame agrees to and is required to have a Chaperone accompany her to all events. This can be the Directors, Old King Coal Committee Member, parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, or sibling over the age of 18.
b. Princess Flame agrees to and is required to have her attire approved by the Pageant Directors prior to each event.
20. Princess Flame agrees to and is required to attend the following parades:
a. The Old King Coal Festival Parade
b. HerrinFesta Italiana Parade
c. Du Quoin State Fair Parade
d. Murphysboro Apple Festival Grand Parade
e. SIU Homecoming Parade
f. Christmas Parade held in West Frankfort.
*She may attend other parades with approval from the pageant director. Princess Flame is responsible for securing her own convertible for parades.
21. All personal appearances as Princess Flame must be approved in advance by the Pageant Directors.
22. For all parades, Contestants will furnish a driver of at least 18 years of age, with a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance to drive a vehicle. If the driver or contestants cause any damage to rented or loaned vehicles while representing the Old King Coal Festival and the Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant, Contestants shall hold harmless the Old Festival and the Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant from any and all liability to said vehicle or any damage caused to another individual or vehicle.
23. If Princess Flame is unable to fulfill her duties, she will automatically relinquish the title and winnings to the next eligible Runner Up. In the event a Runner Up is not qualified to serve as Princess Flame, the Pageant Directors reserve the right to reinstate the Princess Flame from the previous year to fulfill the duties.
24. Princess Flame will receive half of her scholarship money at the beginning of her reign, and will receive half of her scholarship money upon her retirement. This is to ensure participation and accurate representation of the pageant and the festival.
25. The Pageant Directors reserve the right to make changes to the Official Rules and Regulations.
By signing below, I hereby acknowledge that I have read the official rules and regulations printed herewith, and that I am complying with them in every way and the personal data provided to the pageant director is true and correct.